Sophomore center Willie Cauley-Stein, who Kentucky coach John Calipari said is unlikely to play in Saturday night's national semifinal against Wisconsin because of the left ankle injury that kept him out of the Elite Eight, gave UK fans a flicker of hope on Thursday.

He didn't talk to the media, but Cauley-Stein emerged from the Cats' locker room after practice without crutches and not wearing the protective boot he has been in since last Friday. He walked slowly and with a limp, but without assistance and not apparent brace on the ankle.

Calipari's time with the media was already up for the day when that happened, though, and Antigua wasn't revealing any secrets. Around here, after all, he still has a boss.